Buying a Los Angeles Home for a Bargain

Did that catch your eye? Unfortunately, leaving investors out of the equation, as a Los Angeles home buyer you are probably not going to find that bargain home you are looking for.

Why?

Because the real bargains often don’t make it to the general market. They are bought through word-of-mouth or on the courthouse steps. And, if by some chance a good one slips through, there will be a buying frenzy with multiple offers, making the home no longer a bargain.

Also, many of the neighborhoods of Los Angeles were not hit as badly as the rest of the country and here you absolutely get what you pay for.

But a foreclosure is going to be a bargain, right?

Probably not. Generally by the time a Los Angeles foreclosure gets to the market it is pretty much going to be in poor condition, if not completely gutted. So by the time you fix it up any savings you might have will be wiped out.

So I can buy a short sale for a bargain, right?

Wrong. A short sale occurs when a seller owes more on the mortgage than the home is worth. Instead of walking away and being foreclosed on they opt to put it on the market. The lender is already taking a loss so they are going to ensure that the home is priced according to the market. No bargains are going to be found here. Generally, you will find these homes in better condition than one that has been foreclosed on, but the time involved in waiting for a short sale, and the fact that repairs are most likely not going to be done may you may end up with a buyer paying more than if they had bought a traditional home and were able to negotiate with the seller for repairs.

I can offer way less than the list price right?

Pretty much the only way you may buy a Los Angeles home for way less than the list price is if it is way overpriced in the first place. Your Los Angeles Realtor® will have done the comps on the home and advised you as to whether the price being asked is at market or not. If the home is priced correctly, the seller is probably not going to let it go for much less, if they will let it go for less at all. Not every home seller is desperate. In fact most aren’t. And don’t be fooled by homes that have been sitting on the market for awhile. There is a reason they have not sold. It could be that they are overpriced or there is something wrong with them.

In today’s Los Angeles real estate market, where new inventory is low in many areas, homes that come on the market well-priced are going into multiples and selling very quickly.

If you find a Los Angeles home that you love, and it is well-priced, you will have found your bargain home.

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Buying or Selling Los Angeles Real Estate

Buying or selling a Los Angeles home can be a daunting process in a city this size, especially if you’re new to L.A. Town. You’ll need a resident expert to show you around and help you narrow down the areas where you might like to live. I will help you find the perfect home in the right area to fit your lifestyle, budget and needs!

When I list and sell Los Angeles homes for my clients I strive to make the experience a pleasant one. My mission is to provide outstanding service while utilizing the best practices and systems available.

If you are an absentee owner, you’ll need someone to handle all the details that you can’t handle remotely. That’s where I come in – I’m there when you can’t be. I also specialize in lease property in Los Angeles.